FLiP FACULTY APPROVED PARENTING COORDINATOR - FRANCES PLACE

Contact Details

PROFILE

I am a qualified and experienced specialist family solicitor and mediator. I qualified as a solicitor in 1982 and as a mediator in 1996. I have just trained and qualified as a parenting coordinator to provide this new service in the UK. Parenting coordination has been well established in other jurisdictions for many years, helping many parents overcome entrenched and damaging conflicts following separation in their children’s interests.

I work full time as a mediator and parenting coordinator in my own company, Progressive Mediation Ltd with my husband and one other mediator.

From my experience as a solicitor and mediator I have seen the devastating effect that continuing conflict between couples after separation has on their children. It is clear that frequently parents have their children’s best interests at heart but it is not always possible for parents to disentangle themselves from the emotions following the breakdown of a relationship and develop a constructive parenting relationship as separated parents. Mediation is useful but it is relatively short term work; for parents in high conflict parenting coordination can help provide a longer term solution. We see parents who want what’s best for their children, often know what’s best for their children but don’t know how to overcome their entrenched conflict.

A Testimonial from a client:

‘Frances was the mediator for my ex-husband and I during the difficult time establishing arrangements for our child following separation.

During our sessions Frances has listened, guided and offered realistic information and support which has helped us agree on our arrangements.

Prior to mediation we were prepared to go to the courts, emotions were very high and incredibly stressful and we were both concerned about the impact this was having on our child as well as ourselves. Six months later, at the end of our mediation we have a fair, amicable arrangement in place, we are communicating better and we have a mutual understanding that we can go back to mediation at any point in the future if we need to.’